18 June 2025

We tend to take gray catbirds for granted but here are some cool facts you might not know. For instance:

• Gray catbirds (Dumetella carolinensis) are monotypic, the only species in their genus. The catbird’s genus name Dumetella means “small thorny thicket” a reference to his habit of singing from inside thorny thickets instead of from a prominent perch.

• Yes they are gray but they have a splash of color under their tails: rufous undertail coverts.

• Males and females look alike except for these subtle differences.

Sexes show similar appearances in all plumages, although females average duller than males and average less-extensive rufous on longest undertail coverts.

— Birds of the World: Gray Catbird appearance

• Catbirds use their sense of smell to find their way on migration(!) as described in this vintage article: Sniffing Their Way North.

• They are present all year in some parts of the U.S. (purple areas below) but most of us see them only in the breeding season. In Pittsburgh they typically arrive in late April and leave in mid October.

• They nest in the middle of thickets and lay turquoise blue eggs.

• Catbirds are rarely parasitized by brown-headed cowbirds because they recognize cowbird eggs in their nests and kick them out. Note the color! described in this vintage article Cat Versus Cow.

• Male catbirds are jazzmen! Their song is an improvisation rather than a direct imitation. Read more at: Virtuoso

Here’s the catbird’s song:

(video from Wikimedia Commons)

And here’s his “meow.”

Enjoy his song this month. He’ll stop singing soon.